Hi, Im looking for a Norwegian Elkhound puppy.

I have contacted a few breeders within 2 hours drive of me.
I've also seen a few from Ireland and i'm just wondering how do I go about bringing a puppy over form Ireland to England (Greater London).
I've also signed up to a few forums so I can spread the word.
Is there anything else I can do to find myself an Elkhound? They seem to be pretty rare in the UK

Stephen

You may have to wait as few breeders will breed unless they have orders. The Elkhound is the sort of dog you may need help with so buying from a breeder who will offer you help and support is important.

Never buy unless the health tests have been done and you are able to see at least the dam at home with the pups. They are produced by puppy farmers particularly in Ireland so be very careful who you are buying from if you go that route and only buy from a breeder the breed club recommend. What breed of dog have you owned in the past?

I am aware that one of the members of this forum has a litter on the floor now but I do not know if they have any that are not spoken for - they will no doubt contact you if they have.

Have you contacted the breed club, the secretary will know who has puppies either born or about to be.

Thanks for the advice, I've been contacting a few people from the necgb.
I'll give the secretary a ring too. I've been reading up on Elkhounds for a while just to make sure they are right for me and so far so good.
I've looked after Labradors for their owners in my house and they are maximum in terms of size I would be able to go for, which is how I came across this breed. I've owned a Labrador mix in another country and now have a rottweiler there.
I'm getting wooden flooring done in all the rooms and currently looking for things to buy before I get a puppy so hopefully the newcomer will have everything sorted before he/she's arrived.
Anything else recommended? in case I've forgotten something.

This is just my opinion of course but I would say they are not as destructive as a Lab nor as powerful as a Rottie but they are not as biddable as either and far more self willed which is why I suggested you need a helpful breeder to be there for you with the inevitable problems you will come across particularly when the pup reaches the teenage stage.  If an independent dog is what you like then the Elkhound is a good choice, you will have to work very hard on recall if you want to walk off lead but apart from that they are not difficult to train providing you are happy to accept a compromise between what you want and what the Elkhound is prepared to give and in my experience a bulling method will not get you anywhere, training for reward defiantly the best method but at the same time they respect you for your strength of purpose and take advantage of any opportunity they see to get their own way.

I'll probably look for a breeder within a few hours drive from me then so I can get as much info from them as possible and see how they live etc.
The recall part is what I read about elsewhere as well, they seem to go into their own little zone if something catches their eye. Hopefully it won't be too hard to teach it that command.
Reading all this info makes me want to have one right now.
Hopefully someone will reply to my emails so I can start preparing for a new puppy

LOL SLM it is not difficult to teach the command it is persuading them that obeying it is a good idea that's the problem. All hounds are much the same, once the nose is working the ears are not.

>I'm getting wooden flooring done in all the rooms and currently looking for things to buy before I get a puppy so hopefully the newcomer will have everything sorted before he/she's arrived.

Apologies for off topic ** It may be worth starting a new thread to ask for opinions on wooden floors.  I know they wouldn't suit my dogs who tend to run in from the garden and corner at speed.  If we had wooden floors then as a puppy my youngest would certainly have needed some extra vet visits!!

The subject comes up from time to time so you may find some people on here have good advice about what to treat the floors with to make the surface safer.  Also how to deal with weeing accidents.

Good luck in your search, be prepared to go on a waiting list and maybe do some research on insurance whilst you wait?  There are a lot of options out there but a quick rummage on this site might give you a list of companies to start with - I'm sure someone else asked the question recently

I'm sure Brainless will answer you soon - she is an exhibitor/breeder and I'm sure she can point you in the right direction.

As far as I know Jackie all three litters born recently were very over subscribed and have all been homed/spoken for (only 4 litters born so far this year in reputable circles that I know of).

To the original poster.

You will need to go on a breeders waiting list, (the NECGB secretary is usually told of litters born or planned up to 12 months ahead) go through the breed clubs as the breeders have to abide by a strict code of ethics http://www.necgb.co.uk/page.php?page_ID=11[/url] .  Any other litters sadly will have been produced purely to sell by those who do not health test etc.

A lot of breeders prefer not to have puppies if they can during the height of the show season, and nature co-operating will try to have them in the Autumn to Spring.

I know of a couple of litters planned for bitches due in season early Autumn, the parents will have been hip scored, eye tested, and DNA tested for prcd-PRA (unless hereditary clear).

Much as I thought Barbara, I have always waited for my pups having put my name down only one have I found ready born so to speak, which is why I suggested the OP should put there name on a list, well I think I did, you know what my memory is like.

Thanks everyone, I'm soaking it all in slowly. I've got my details down on the champdog list. I'll get my name down on the Elkhound site aswell
How much would i be looking at btw? I would really love a male also.. I'll see what happens.

You need to contact and if possible visit a few breeders and then ask to put your name down on their lists, best way is to visit some shows and have a chat with the exhibitors. No Elkhound breeder I would recommend would sell you two pups at the same time and I would advise that the first one should be at least two and half before you take on a second although there will be those who do not agree with me but there again perhaps that is not what you meant.

Price wise you'll be looking at £650 give or take.  As breeders we do like to keep roughly the same as we do co-operate matching potential owners and the available puppies, swapping about depending on sexes and numbers born.

You should not limit yourself geographically either as unless your lucky your unlikely to have a local breeder, in fact it is rare to have a pup go to a home locally.

If your found to have suitable circumstances for a puppy you will need to sit tight and wait I'm afraid. 

You can fill the time doing lots of research.  Visit one of the championship shows nd meet the dogs.  Your bound to find lots of relatives of any pup you may end up having, we are usually a pretty welcoming bunch.

Give your rough location.  The breed is usually very well represented at the Houndshow.  This will be on Saturday 7th August at Stafford County showground.

The next bigger show with the breed scheduled is at East of England championship show this weekend at Peterborough where a fair number of our exhibitors like to camp.

I live in Hounslow. I don't mind driving a few hours to get a dog although I will have to save up a bit more before I get one. Wasn't expecting £650 lol.. I take it the elkhound puppies going for £450 are the stay away puppies?
I'll probably just read up about everything I need and get a guestimate of what me and my sister will be putting in monthly aswell and then we can start going to a few shows when we have decided. What kind of suitable circumstances are you referring to? Never seen this side of getting a pup. When I got my Lab, a woman just came over to my resort with a few dogs and I just took the pup that warmed to me most.. was free aswell

> I take it the elkhound puppies going for £450 are the stay away puppies?
>

I would almost certainly think so, no parental heath testing *that alone can be £500), no KC registration, no proof they are what they say they are, and little knowledge or care by the breeder.

Oh there are also puppy scams, offering puppies (insert breed) cheaply, and then asking you to send back money when they pay you too much, or asking for shipping costs and no puppy exists and they get your money.

>What kind of suitable circumstances are you referring to?  Never seen this side of getting a pup

It's not at all unusual for good breeders to 'interview' you to check suitability for their breed.  Firstly it's to make sure that you understand what their breed needs, and secondly it's to ensure that you will offer a good home for one of their puppies.  For some breeders it's a bit like selling their children - in fact some might prefer to do that!!

In return you'll get a lifetime of support from the breeder, and sometimes the owners of littermates too.  I still keep in regular contact with several owners of my boys siblings - it's invaluable during the early days of comparing weights, toilet training and food.  We've all just recenlty swapped 3rd birthday photographs too

As you are looking for a breed that has so few health tested litters each year.  I'd avoid a breeder who did not ask any questions, or who did not want to meet you first (before puppies are even on the ground).  Why not start a new thread to find out what sort of questions you might want to prepare for...

> As you are looking for a breed that has so few health tested litters each year. 

Just to clarify all reputable Kennel club registered litters will e bred by people belonging to the breed clubs and health testing as per the code of ethics.

It's just there are few litters bred.  There are various reasons for this.  The older breeders dying/retiring fewer new people coming into the breed able to breed (the breed as a whole is good at ensuring breeding is largely done responsibly) due to time, cost, space, long term commitment.

> What kind of suitable circumstances are you referring to? Never seen this side of getting a pup. When I got my Lab, a woman just came over to my resort with a few dogs and I just took the pup that warmed to me most.. was free aswell

That kind of person just produces puppies to sell, doesn't give a monkey abotu you ro the pup once they ahve yoru money.

An idea of what is meant is here: http://dogs.about.com/cs/generalcare/a/pet_stores.htm

http://southeasternhound.co.uk/show.html

Here is a link to a hound open show at Hickstead which shouldn't be too much of a drive for you. I popped along last year and there were a few Elkies there..
Barbara would know if there is likely to be a reasonable number there this year as to whether its worth you making the journey or not.

Unfortunately the number of Elkhounds at SEH are few, certainly go along and have a chat but you may not find a reasonable number to look at or people to talk to.

Th nearest show for the OP with any appreciable number of the breed present will be Richmond Championship show on 10th September held at Losley Farm Guildford.

Richmond is super close Do I have to sign up or just go there?
Would definitely help if I got to see a good few Elkhounds.
2 months will hopefully fly by. I've already jotted down what bed, car belts etc. I need

You can look at the schedule here, http://www.highampress.co.uk/richmond.pdf should say what the parking and entrance charges for non exhibitors are.

I will be going, so look forward to meeting you, just ask for me, I will be the fluffy 40+ female flapping about and talking too much.

Your in luck, it will be a cheap doggy day out if your a visitor:
VISITORS There will be no charge for car parking or admission to the show.

Even better I think i'll be going to this. See you there!